The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group is aiming to make the Ottawa Champions a bigger hit.

OSEG, which owns the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League, the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League and Ottawa Fury FC of the United Soccer League, has entered into a “strategic partnership” with the Champions, who play in the Can-Am Baseball League.

Despite previous speculation that OSEG could purchase the Champions, the baseball team will continue to operate independently.

Ottawa Champions owner Miles Wolff.Wayne Cuddington /
Postmedia

OSEG will, however, use its marketing and sales resources to help expand the Champions’ group-ticket sales and corporate partnerships.

“We felt like those were areas we had experience in and a well-established team that could take on this task,” Adrian Sciarra, OSEG senior vice-president for sports business operations, said in a statement.

“We have existing relationships within the Ottawa-Gatineau community and look forward to helping grow the Ottawa Champions business.”

At first blush, the Champions would appear to be in competition with the Redblacks and Fury FC, who also play their games during the summer.

However, Sciarra said the goal of the partnership with the Champions was to promote the entire spectrum of sports in the national capital region.

“OSEG believes that a healthy and vibrant professional sports community is a benefit for all teams and important for the community at large,” he said.

Champions owner Miles Wolff says the relationship with OSEG should improve their business.

“We are extremely pleased to have this association with OSEG, one of the top sports organizations in Canada,” Wolff said in a statement. “Their confidence in the Champions will further strengthen the long-term viability of our organization in the market.”

The Champions will begin their fifth season on May 17 at home against the New Jersey Jackals.

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